We would like to clarify the characteristics of the EcoDesign symposium compared to other symposiums related to environmental issues. Whereas other symposiums tend to be characterized by technical fields such as recycling and LCA (life cycle assessment), the EcoDesign symposium endeavors to provide practical solutions by addressing a wide range of disciplines including social sciences and economic studies.

We have had a total of approximately 1,000 papers and 2,000 participants since our first symposium in 1999. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of EcoDesign symposium, EcoDesign2009 will be held in the "Green City" Sapporo, and attempt to follow the guidelines of "green conventions". The purpose of EcoDesign2009 is to suggest possible future directions through discussions on various topics such as technologies which lead to low energy consumption and improvement of material recycling, and new systems which can initiate radical change in human behavior as well as social and economic structures i.e. social design. Moreover, a session examining the special themes of "Social innovation", "Social problems", "Sustainable manufacturing", and "Green building/city" will be set up.

In this conference, we will prepare "green" excursions exploring Japan's indigenous culture of "Ainu", the ski jump platform on Okura Mountain built for the 1972 Sapporo Olympics, the Moerenuma park designed by the artist Isamu Noguchi whose concept "carved the earth". Through this symposium, we will have a stimulating chance to think about "global environmental issues" from both technological developments and nature/ philosophy/ culture perspectives. We invite you and your partner to EcoDesign2009: a symposium providing the unique opportunity to obtain exciting and innovative ideas and experiences. We look forward to seeing you in Sapporo!